Cardiff Blues vs Munster, Sun 9 May 6:15pm; S4C/Setanta 1

thomond2006

Munster Squad:
Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Julian Brugnaut, Dave Ryan, John Hayes, Damien Varley, Jerry Flannery, Denis Fogarty, Billy Holland, Donncha O'Callaghan, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Nick Williams, James Coughlan, Niall Ronan,

Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean De Villiers, Danny Barnes, Denis Hurley, Keith Earls, Scott Deasy, Tom Gleeson.

I'd like to see:

Horan
Varley
Buckley
Holland
DOC
Williams
Quinlan
Coughlan
TOL
Warwick (ROG's motivation for the ML is questionable)
Hurley
JdV
Earls
Mafi
Deasy

Flannery
Ryan
Ronan
Wallace
Stringer
ROG
Gleeson

I think the team needs a bit of "freshening up", hence a few changes.

Munster need at least a losing BP to make the playoffs. Cardiff need to win and deny Munster a BP to leapfrog them in the table.

Judgement Day

ROG isn't the only one that might need motivating for the Magners League, I can't work up much enthusiasm for it anymore - roll on the Tri Nations which starts with the All Blacks crushing the Boks in NZ on July 10th.

theKramer

I just realised there is no 2nd row cover in that squad....

Surely thats a bit of risk to take since we're not guaranteed a semi spot.

durkadurka

With poc, mod and donncha ryan out, do munster have any more 2nd rows?

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

With poc, mod and donncha ryan out, do munster have any more 2nd rows?

Ian Nagle and Dave Foley in the academy.

PhatPiggins

Cardiff are in fine fettle at the mo. I really dont fancy our chances but I'm hoping for a reaction after the Biarritz farce.

durkadurka

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Cardiff are in fine fettle at the mo. I really dont fancy our chances but I'm hoping for a reaction after the Biarritz farce.

O maybe they'l say sod this, lets go on holidays.

PhatPiggins

durkadurka wrote: »

O maybe they'l say sod this, lets go on holidays.

That is the fear isn't it. If it was me I'd start as few of the semi fianl XV as possible. I thought the guys who lined out against Connacht showed far more passion.

irishbucsfan

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ian Nagle and Dave Foley in the academy.

And Dave O'Callaghan filled in there very well during the U20 6 Natioins.



Actually, I hope he flops now and doesn't make it as a pro because I dont want to have to write out Donncha OC and Dave OC, I like DOC

2040

irishbucsfan wrote: »

And Dave O'Callaghan filled in there very well during the U20 6 Natioins.



Actually, I hope he flops now and doesn't make it as a pro because I dont want to have to write out Donncha OC and Dave OC, I like DOC

I believe DOC 2.0 is being used for Dave.

[Jackass]

Wont Quinlan be covering second row?

Munster have left themselves in a bit of a mess coming into the last game of the campaign proper, but seeing as you only need a losing bonus point, i can see you getting through to meet Leinster in the semi.

buck65

Looking at the games at the weekend I'm not even sure what the placings are going to be. Ospreys are no way guaranteed a win over Dragons and Glasgow v Scarlets is also a bit of a lottery.
Munster will probably lose in Cardiff but might edge a point, Edinburgh will be more up for it in the RDS than we expect.
If Leinster lose and the Ospreys win then the playoffs would be Ospreys v Munster/ Cardiff or even Edinburgh! And Leinster v Glasgow.

PhatPiggins

buck65 wrote: »

Looking at the games at the weekend I'm not even sure what the placings are going to be. Ospreys are no way guaranteed a win over Dragons and Glasgow v Scarlets is also a bit of a lottery.
Munster will probably lose in Cardiff but might edge a point, Edinburgh will be more up for it in the RDS than we expect.
If Leinster lose and the Ospreys win then the playoffs would be Ospreys v Munster/ Cardiff or even Edinburgh! And Leinster v Glasgow.

I've been a critic of the playoff system but this is the first year in a long time that so many of the final round games actually mean something.

Gracelessly Tom

For what it's worth here's my predictions:

Leinster to win, Ospreys to win, Glasgow to win and the Munster game is too tight to call. Possibly a Cardiff win but not by more than 7. Ulster/ Connaught is a dead rubber so will say Ulster as the home team.

So my semi's would be Leinster v Munster and Ospreys v Glasgow. Can't see Croker being used, won't fill it for a ML semi unfortunately. Would be a lost atmoshpere only half full.

buck65

I think both teams and supporters have lost a bit of stuffing over the past week , does anyone really have the appetite for a Croke Park semi again?
Apart from the faithful supporters hard to see many going from Munster to this game. The RDS is plenty big enough.
An Ospreys/Glasgow win would be better for the competition.

PhatPiggins

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

For what it's worth here's my predictions:

Leinster to win, Ospreys to win, Glasgow to win and the Munster game is too tight to call. Possibly a Cardiff win but not by more than 7. Ulster/ Connaught is a dead rubber so will say Ulster as the home team.

So my semi's would be Leinster v Munster and Ospreys v Glasgow. Can't see Croker being used, won't fill it for a ML semi unfortunately. Would be a lost atmoshpere only half full.

Dragons are fielding a second team so comprehensive O's victory for me. Scarlets on the brink and will be looking to impress their fans, home win for me. Cardiff to win and Munster to get nothing . Leinster to edge out Edinburgh.

Semi's : Leinster v Cardiff and Ospreys v Glasgow
Final: Ospreys v Cardiff

ScrubsfanChris

Munster 4pts

C'mon, where's the faith

castie

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

C'mon, where's the faith

In San Sebastian drowning its sorrows

PhatPiggins

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Munster 4pts

C'mon, where's the faith

Lost to reality

buck65

Munster team
Deasy, Hurley, Mafi, JdV, Gleeson, O Gara, Stringer,
Horan, Varley, Buckley, DOC, Holland, Williams, Ronan, Wallace

subs Sherry, Ryan, Quinlan, Coughlan, O Leary, Warwick, Barnes

budhabob

buck65 wrote: »

Munster team
Deasy, Hurley, Mafi, JdV, Gleeson, O Gara, Stringer,
Horan, Varley, Buckley, DOC, Holland, Williams, Ronan, Wallace

subs Sherry, Ryan, Quinlan, Coughlan, O Leary, Warwick, Barnes

Interesting team. I see Earls is out with the groin injury again.

PhatPiggins

buck65 wrote: »

Munster team
Deasy, Hurley, Mafi, JdV, Gleeson, O Gara, Stringer,
Horan, Varley, Buckley, DOC, Holland, Williams, Ronan, Wallace

subs Sherry, Ryan, Quinlan, Coughlan, O Leary, Warwick, Barnes

I presume Mafi will be on the wing despite being named in the centre

smurphy29

I must say that team really surprises me; it looks as if the management team have decided it's too much to ask to get three tough away wins and would be better off resting up. Interesting.

You do gt the impression Munster don't have much fondness for the Magners League. A Munster fan said 'That's it, season over' after last week. Leinster, probably as a result of being knocked out earlier in Europe more often seem to have more of a relationship with the league and place a bit more store in its worth.

PhatPiggins

smurphy29 wrote: »

I must say that team really surprises me; it looks as if the management team have decided it's too much to ask to get three tough away wins and would be better off resting up. Interesting.

You do gt the impression Munster don't have much fondness for the Magners League. A Munster fan said 'That's it, season over' after last week. Leinster, probably as a result of being knocked out earlier in Europe more often seem to have more of a relationship with the league and place a bit more store in its worth.

I dont care what the reasoning for the team is but I'm happy with the selection. A lot of those guys played their hearts out against Connacht and I'm hoping for more of the same. Strong bench if things are going wrong.

Gracelessly Tom

buck65 wrote: »

Munster team
Deasy, Hurley, Mafi, JdV, Gleeson, O Gara, Stringer,
Horan, Varley, Buckley, DOC, Holland, Williams, Ronan, Wallace

subs Sherry, Ryan, Quinlan, Coughlan, O Leary, Warwick, Barnes

According to IRFU site and Munster site Earls is playing centre, Mafi on wing and Gleeson is not involved in any form. Might be 23rd man at best.

budhabob

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

According to IRFU site and Munster site Earls is playing centre, Mafi on wing and Gleeson is not involved in any form. Might be 23rd man at best.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7519.php
Keith Earls has been ruled out of Munster's trip to Cardiff with the recurrence of his groin strain he has been subjected to in the last few weeks.

Gracelessly Tom

budhabob wrote: »

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7519.php
Keith Earls has been ruled out of Munster's trip to Cardiff with the recurrence of his groin strain he has been subjected to in the last few weeks.

I stand corrected!

buck65

smurphy29 wrote: »

I must say that team really surprises me; it looks as if the management team have decided it's too much to ask to get three tough away wins and would be better off resting up. Interesting.

You do gt the impression Munster don't have much fondness for the Magners League. A Munster fan said 'That's it, season over' after last week. Leinster, probably as a result of being knocked out earlier in Europe more often seem to have more of a relationship with the league and place a bit more store in its worth.

I disagree with you here. Buckley for Hayes is a must at this stage, MOD is out so Holland comes in, flannery is struggling with an injury, Earls out with injury, O Leary has been poor and Stringer deserves a start (same for Warwick) . Quinlan is covering backrow and 2nd row and probably needs a rest.
With Dowling, Howlett and O Connell still out it's hard to see where in this selection Munster aren't taking the game seriously. A bit of squad rotation.

thomond2006

Delighted with the Munster selection, although it's perhaps harsh on Coughlan.

http://www.magnersleague.com/teams/blues/5201.php

CARDIFF BLUES:
15 Ben Blair 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Darren Allinson

8 Xavier Rush 7 Martyn Williams 6 Maama Molitika 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Deiniol Jones 3 Scott Andrews 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Gareth Williams 17 John Yapp 18 Bradley Davies 19 Sam Warburton 20 Lloyd Williams 21 Dai Flanagan 22 Dafydd Hewitt

Allinson starts at 9 as both Rees and Cooper are out.

Big battle at centre, Laulala has been superb for Cardiff since his arrival.

Big game for Buckley, up against Gethin Jenkins.

Judgement Day

Can what's left of Munster get themselves up for this match? Can I get myself up for this match? Can I find a pub in Enniscorthy where I can watch it rather than the Leinster match? Should I have a punt on Munster by more than 7 @ 4/1 and by more than 10 @ 6/1 and JDV to score a try @ 5/2 and two tries @ 12/1? It's a big ask for the lads, for me (I have volcanic ash syndrome - a bad cold) and the kids. I think I will go with my bets, pack the DS games for the kids and search for a pub with more than one screen. It just has to better than the Biarritz game.

wixfjord

Judgement Day wrote: »

Can what's left of Munster get themselves up for this match? Can I get myself up for this match? Can I find a pub in Enniscorthy where I can watch it rather than the Leinster match? Should I have a punt on Munster by more than 7 @ 4/1 and by more than 10 @ 6/1 and JDV to score a try @ 5/2 and two tries @ 12/1? It's a big ask for the lads, for me (I have volcanic ash syndrome - a bad cold) and the kids. I think I will go with my bets, pack the DS games for the kids and search for a pub with more than one screen. It just has to better than the Biarritz game.

Cant see that happening tbh Im going with Cardiff -3 with Skybet which I think is very fair. Cardiff are in form at home and know what they have to do to get through. Only worry is that 9 and 10, but in the rest of the backs Cardiff are very strong imo. Good luck finding a pub in town thats showing it! Rackards would be my best bet!

thomond2006

Good run from Williams there.

budhabob

thomond2006 wrote: »

Good run from Williams there.

SHame he had no support though.

bleg

Was driving home, just saw the half time score, what's the story of the half?

thomond2006

Munster 12
Cardiff 10

HT

Jamie Roberts scored the try for Cardiff.

Cardiff dominated the opening exchanges but made a few errors.

The scrum has been up and down for Munster. They coughed up a chance on the Cardiff tryline but later established some parity.

ROG has been imperious from the tee, 4 from 4.

Deasy's kicking from hand has been very impressive.

ScrubsfanChris

Roberts drove himself over for the try - 10 Cardiff.
4 really good penalties taken by o'Gara - 12 Munster.

Cool_CM

thomond2006 wrote: »

ROG has been imperious from the tee, 4 from 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgoXUzIwXk0

Cool_CM

Yellow for Horan, Munster down to 14

pappyodaniel

O'Gara has played very well so far. Time to unleash a couple from the bench.

thomond2006

Argh Varley....

TheTMO

Score?

Cool_CM

Still 12-10

thomond2006

Munster closing out the game, time running out for the hosts to score 10 or more points.

Micky Dolenz

What does this mean?

cruiserweight

Cardiff in front by 1 point but only a minute to go

Cool_CM

Fück. Great penalty by Halfpenny
13-12 Cardiff:(

JJ

Munster are through to the playoffs by a losing bonus point. I'm sure they would've preferred going into the playoffs with a win but they're still in 4th. I supposed we'll have to settle for the RDS but is there a possibility of having the semi-final in Croker or the new Lansdowne?

ScrubsfanChris

JJ wrote: »

Munster are through to the playoffs by a losing bonus point. I'm sure they would've preferred going into the playoffs with a win but they're still in 4th. I supposed we'll have to settle for the RDS but is there a possibility of having the semi-final in Croker or the new Lansdowne?

RDS probably,
Croker mabey,
Lansdowne no way.

We should have won that game, O'Gara's cross field to Mafi was stupid.
It was a very easy 3 if he had kicked for goal.

Defense was very good helped by a few knock on's from Cardiff. Penalty count has to go down.

suppafly

When will the tickets be going on sale for the playoff semi's?

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

RDS probably,
Croker mabey,
Lansdowne no way.

We should have won that game, O'Gara's cross field to Mafi was stupid.
It was a very easy 3 if he had kicked for goal.

Defense was very good helped by a few knock on's from Cardiff. Penalty count has to go down.

Exactly. It was a really stupid decision. It sums up the season of bad decision making. Also shows that O'Gara really doesn't have the leadership stills he needs to be a captain. Experience along isn't enough.

bleg

Says landsdowne on the magners leage website

http://www.magnersleague.com/news/850.php

This just started on Setanta, worth watching?